An independent gin distillery based in Kent is introducing a membership scheme following record sales at the end of 2025.
Jonomade Gin, founded by the Blackmore family in 2018, will offer subscribers early access to four limited-edition releases and the chance for a select group of 24 members to help shape future recipes.
Founder Matt Blackmore said: “We are delighted to announce our new membership subscription, which coincides with four limited editions that we have ready to launch. I am also working very, very hard on a zero alcohol option that accurately replicates the alcohol version.”
The brand name combines the first names of the family members and reflects their dual heritage in the UK and New Zealand.
The venture began after Josh’s sporting ambitions were halted by a knee injury, prompting the family to explore alternative business ideas.
Matt recalled the moment that influenced their product direction: “I suggested we go for a drink and Josh bring his notepad to discuss ideas,” he said.
“We went to bar and ordered a couple of G+Ts. The newbie behind the bar poured the full 200ml bottle of tonic into a single measure of gin. He destroyed the drink, but he did, unwittingly, give us our USP. What if we could make a flavour-packed gin that stood up to any mixer – or, indeed, a heavy-handed barman?”
The family moved to the UK in 2018 and began distillation in Sevenoaks the following year.
“We knew what we didn’t want to be,” said Matt. “A lot of businesses and products want to be all things to all people, but actually I don’t want to be in Wetherspoons. Every category I can think of is moving from the middle ground to either end of the spectrum between convenience and value or ‘I’m getting a real, genuine experience so I’m going to pay for that’. You have either got Amazon or you have got Fortnum and Mason.”
The pandemic interrupted operations and led Matt to take temporary employment while reassessing the company’s future.
“And we successfully turned our business into a hobby,” said Matt.
The brand nevertheless achieved consistent recognition in the London Gin Competition.
“I had entered the gins into the London gin competition through 2020-22 and each of our brands won medals every year,” said Matt. “The people coming into the distillery loved our story, loved what we were trying to do. It just seemed a shame to leave it all behind.
“So last year I gave up full-time work, reset the business, and looked at upskilling, because perhaps I did not have the skills as an entrepreneur that I thought I had. We had our most successful month ever in December 2025. The reason I know we are on the right track is Noah said to me ‘You are more like Dad now,’ – so the years of struggle are leading to good things, and not just from a business perspective.
“We have put ourselves in this amazing position where we have got wonderful products, we have got unbelievably loyal customers, both from a business-to-business perspective but also consumers coming to the distillery regularly.
“I feel like we are about to become an overnight success that has been years in the making.”
Details can be found at jonomade.com.